Lucknow: Six people, including the imam of a mosque, have been arrested and several others booked for organising Friday ‘namaz’ on the road in Rahamat Nagar under Nagar Kotwali police station of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh. A video taken by a passerby in which people can be seen purportedly praying outside the mosque has gone viral on social media on Saturday.
SHO of Nagar Kotwali, Mahaveer Singh, said, “Taking note of the viral video, police launched an investigation in the matter. A case under IPC section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and section 151 CrPC (arrest to prevent the commission of cognisable offenses) has been registered.”
DSP (city), Ayush Vikarm, added, “The imam, Maulana Mohd Nasema, was arrested under section 151 CrPC, produced before the magistrate, who granted him bail on Saturday evening. Five persons, who run nearby shops, have also been held. We are now trying to identify the others who performed the mass prayer. Once identified, they will be arrested. There is a clear government directive that people should not offer ‘namaz’ outside, blocking roads. Action will be taken if anyone violates it.”
A police team from Nagar Kotwali police station questioned several people in the locality and “further investigation is on”.
Munawwar Hussain, a lawyer representing those arrested, said, “All of them have been given bail by the magistrate and released on bonds.”
